Ode to Cadair Bronwen NE Top 1989 to 2007
Some of us always thought you were
An insignificant bump
But for a few years you shone with the glory
Of being a Nuttall
Now, once more, you are nothing
At all
So it was with sadness that we climbed a mountain
But descended a hill
Jim Bloomer, Graham Jackson and
John Barnard on Miller Moss
of patience is needed since the equipment
that can measure heights with an
accuracy measured in millimetres is done
electronically using a device that links to
the Ordnance Survey ground station radio
network. We think of radio waves going
in mathematically straight line, but radio
waves get bent by the ionosphere, so they
need continuous readings over two hours
to obtain the greatest accuracy.
Fortunately we had a beautiful
morning when, in August, we met John
and Graham at the end of the road from
Mosedale in the northern Lake District,
where we found a signpost stating simply
‘Miller Moss’. The first measurement of
the day though was not a mountain, but
rain. Here we encountered a man with
a mission. He told us he was from the
Environment Agency and his job was to
visit rain gauges every month. After the
driest summer for decades we ventured
to suggest his visit was a waste of time.
‘Let’s have a look’, he said and we
followed him up the Cumbria Way. Soon
he stopped and started to unscrew the
gauge then, to our surprise, a huge volume
of water poured out. No drought problems
then with these Northern Fells.
We plodded on up the fellside and soon
arrived at the garden shed, a welcome
rest stop in bad weather. ‘I’m doing the
Cumbria Way in three days for charity’,
said its occupant. Now it was only a short
climb to Miller Moss. John and Graham
and their friend Jim Bloomer started to
set up the kit. The device that measures
altitude was erected. Obviously the
summit was over two thousand feet, but
the OS would expect the exact height to
be measured. Then they also needed to
survey the amount the summit rises above
the adjoining cols. The method Anne and I
used thirty years ago was a builder’s spirit
level. Starting from the col we sighted
along the spirit level then walked to the
spot just noted, then repeating until
we reached the top. We used me as the
surveying pole. Now it’s more accurate
with an Avery Automatic Level rather than
Anne calling ‘Up a bit. That’s it’ Actually
our primitive method was remarkably
accurate. It’s only if a metre either way
really matters that real precision is needed
or for official approval from the OS.
We got the official results a few days
later. And that’s when the media frenzy
started. Suddenly Miller Moss was famous.
The best coverage was from ITV. ‘Can
you be on Miller Moss this afternoon?’
they asked, but we were looking after
grandchildren. No chance, so they sent
a camera and presenter to the summit
anyway. It’s a classic piece. The presenter
fell in a bog, the rain was torrential,
the poor man got soaking wet, but the
landlady of the nearest pub to which he
retired said how pleased she was and
hoped to see many more walkers visiting
the area.
So, go on then, visit Miller Moss,
it’ll do something for local business and
maybe you too might discover the delights
of becoming a member of a select band
who can say ‘I’ve climbed every mountain
in England and Wales’. Do let us know
your progress and when you’ve completed
your name can be added to our list on
www.nuttalls.com
spring 2019 | Outdoor focus 11